Methods, systems, and devices for multiplexing service information from sensor data

ABSTRACT

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, embodiments a service multiplexer identifying a service associated with each of a group of sensors resulting in a group of services. Further embodiments include the service multiplexer creating a service portfolio according to the group of services. Additional embodiments include service multiplexer communicatively coupling to nodes over a 5th Generation (5G) network according to the service portfolio. The 5G network includes a control plane and user plane. Also, embodiments include service multiplexer continuously connecting to the control plane. Further embodiments include receiving data from the sensors. Additional embodiments include service multiplexer determining that the received data is associated with the service portfolio. Also, embodiments include service multiplexer identifying one or more of the nodes according to the service portfolio and sending the received data to the one or more of the nodes over the user plane. Other embodiments are disclosed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/443,433 filed on Feb. 27, 2017, the contents of which are herebyincorporated by reference into this application in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The subject disclosure relates to methods, systems, and devices formultiplexing service information from sensor data.

BACKGROUND

Customer premises including residential homes and commercial buildingcan have a network of various sensors or Internet of Things (IoT)devices to measure, record, configure, or provide services orapplications for the occupants with regard to different premises devicesand/or appliances. Further, the network of IoT devices can be coupled toa communication network that may be a heterogeneous network comprisingcellular, WiFi, and/or Bluetooth networks such as a 5G network. Networkservice nodes that provide or gather data from the IoT devices via the5G network to provide services and applications to occupants of thecustomer premises.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are notnecessarily drawn to scale, and wherein:

FIGS. 1-6 depict illustrative embodiments of systems for multiplexingservice information from sensor data;

FIG. 7 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a method used in portionsof the system described in FIGS. 1-6;

FIGS. 8-9 depict illustrative embodiments of communication systems thatprovide services by multiplexing service information from sensor data;

FIG. 10 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a web portal forinteracting with the communication systems of systems that provideservices by multiplexing service information from sensor data;

FIG. 11 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a communication device;and

FIG. 12 is a diagrammatic representation of a machine in the form of acomputer system within which a set of instructions, when executed, maycause the machine to perform any one or more of the methods describedherein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The subject disclosure describes, among other things, illustrativeembodiments for identifying at least one service associated with aplurality of sensors (a sensor and an IoT device may be used to describedevices that provide similar functions) resulting in a group ofservices. Each of plurality of sensors is associated with at least oneof the group of services. Further embodiments include creating a serviceportfolio according to the group of services. Additional embodimentsinclude communicatively coupling to multiple network services nodes overa 5th Generation (5G) wireless network according to the serviceportfolio. The 5G wireless network includes equipment operating in atleast a control plane and user plane. Also, embodiments includecontinuously connecting to the control plane of the 5G network. Furtherembodiments include receiving data from the multiple sensors resultingin received data. Additional embodiments include determining that thereceived data is associated with the service portfolio. Also,embodiments include identifying a target network services node from themultiple network services nodes according to the service portfolio.Further embodiments include sending the received data to the targetnetwork services node over the user plane of the 5G wireless network.Other embodiments are described in the subject disclosure.

One or more aspects of the subject disclosure include a device. Thedevice comprises a processing system including a processor and a memorythat stores executable instructions that, when executed by theprocessing system, facilitate performance of operations. Operationsinclude identifying at least one service associated with a plurality ofsensors resulting in a group of services. Each of plurality of sensorsis associated with at least one of the group of services. Furtheroperations include creating a service portfolio according to the groupof services. Additional operations include communicatively coupling tomultiple network services nodes over a 5th Generation (5G) wirelessnetwork according to the service portfolio. The 5G wireless networkincludes equipment operating in at least one of a control plane and userplane. Also, operations include continuously connecting to the controlplane of the 5G network. Further operations include receiving data fromthe plurality of sensors resulting in received data. Additionaloperations include determining that the received data is associated withthe service portfolio. Also, operations include identifying a targetnetwork services node from the multiple network services nodes accordingto the service portfolio. Operations include sending the received datato the target network services node over the user plane of the 5Gwireless network.

One or more aspects of the subject disclosure include a machine-readablestorage medium, comprising executable instructions that, when executedby a processing system including a processor, facilitate performance ofoperations. Operations include identifying at least one serviceassociated with a plurality of sensors resulting in a group of services.Each of plurality of sensors is associated with at least one of thegroup of services. Further operations can include creating a tailoredapplication according to the group of services. Additional operationscan include communicatively coupling to multiple network services nodesover a 5th Generation (5G) wireless network according to the tailoredapplication. The 5G wireless network includes equipment operating in atleast one of a control plane and user plane. Also, operations caninclude continuously connecting to the control plane of the 5G network.Further operations include receiving data from the multiple sensorsresulting in received data and determining that the received data isassociated with the tailored application. Additional operations caninclude identifying a target network services node from the multiplenetwork services nodes according to the tailored application. Also,operations can include sending the received data to a target networkservices node over the user plane of the 5G wireless network.

One or more aspects of the subject disclosure include a method. Themethod includes identifying, by a processing system including aprocessor, at least one service associated with a plurality of sensorsresulting in a group of services. Each of plurality of sensors isassociated with at least one of the group of services. Further, themethod includes creating, by the processing system, a user configurabledefinable module according to the group of services. In addition, themethod communicatively coupling, by the processing system, to multiplenetwork services nodes over a 5th Generation (5G) wireless networkaccording to the user configurable definable module. The 5G wirelessnetwork includes equipment operating in at least one of a control planeand user plane. In addition, the method includes continuouslyconnecting, by the processing system, to the control plane of the 5Gnetwork. Also, the method includes receiving, by the processing system,data from the multiple sensors resulting in received data. Further, themethod includes determining, by the processing system, that the receiveddata is associated with the user configurable definable module. Inaddition, the method includes identifying, by the processing system, atarget network services node from the multiple network services nodesaccording to the user configurable definable module. Also sending, bythe processing system, the received data to the target network servicesnode over the user plane of the 5G wireless network.

FIGS. 1-6 depict illustrative embodiments of systems for multiplexingservice information from sensor data. Referring to FIG. 1, one orembodiments of a system 100 include a service multiplexer 102 coupled toand in communication with several network services nodes 122, 124, 126over a communication network 120. In some embodiments, the communicationnetwork 120 can be a 5G communication network. In further embodiments,the communication network can also be a communication network thatincludes wireless networks such as cellular networks, WiFi networks, andBluetooth networks. In other embodiments, the service multiplexer can becoupled to and in communication with sensors 106, 108, 110 over acommunication network 118. Further, communication network 118 can bereferred to a sensor/IoT network. Sensors 106, 108, 110 can be coupledto an appliance or placed in a room to detect environmental conditions,or measure other metrics for a customer premises 104. The customerpremises 104 can be a residential home or a commercial building.Further, in some embodiments, service multiplexer 102 and/orcommunication network 118 can be located within the customer premises104. In other embodiments, service multiplexer 102 and portions ofcommunication network 118 can be located outside customer premises. Inaddition, sensors 106, 108, 110 can be referred to as Internet of Thing(IoT) devices. Sensors and/or IoT devices perform similar functions suchas communicating with one or more network services nodes 122, 124, 126that include receiving instructions and commands from the networksservices node to control a premises device of appliance and exchangingcontent or data as well as receiving instructions or content from othersensors/IoT devices via the service multiplexer 102.

In one or more embodiments, the sensor 106 can be communicativelycoupled to a media device (e.g. television), the sensor 108 can becommunicatively coupled to a video surveillance camera 114, and thesensor 110 can be communicatively coupled to a thermostat 116. In one ormore embodiments, the service multiplexer is communicatively coupled tonetwork services nodes 122, 124, 126 over a communication network 120.In some embodiments, the network services node 122 can be a media serveroperated by a media service provider. In other embodiments, the networkservices node 124 can be a premises security server operated by apremises security service provider. In further embodiments, the networkservices node 124 can be a utility server operated by a power utilitycompany.

In one or more embodiments, the communication network 118 may be anInternet Protocol (IP) network such that all devices on thecommunication network 118 each have an IP address. In other embodiments,the communication network 118 may be a non-IP communication network aneach device on the communication network has another type of uniqueidentifier. In some embodiments, the service multiplexer 102 mayexchange information between the network services node 122, 124, 126 andthe sensors/IoT devices 106, 108, 110 to test the operation of thesensor/IoT device. In further embodiments, the sensor/IoT device 106,108, 110 may have a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) that can used intesting and controlling the operations of the sensor/IoT device 106,108, 110.

In one or more embodiments, a user associated with the customer premises104 may request media content to be presented on the media device 112.Thus, the service multiplexer 102 may receive the media content from themedia server 122 and provide the media content to the media device 112for presentation. In some embodiments, the video surveillance camera 114may capture video of portions of the customer premises 104 environmentand provide the service multiplexer 102 with the captured video.Further, the service multiplexer 102 may provide the captured video tothe premises security server 124 for further analysis (e.g. imageprocessing to determine whether a possible intruder on the customerpremises). In other embodiments, the user may provide instructions froma mobile phone to the utility server 126 to decrease the heat in thecustomer premises 104 while the user is traveling away from the customerpremises 104. The utility server 126 may then provide a command todecrease the heat of the customer premises 104 to the servicemultiplexer 102. Further, the service multiplexer 102 can provide thecommand to the thermostat 116.

In one or more embodiments, the user may create a service portfolio forcustomer premises 104 security using the media device 112, videosurveillance camera 114, and thermostat 116 as well the associatedsensors/IoT devices 106, 108, 110. Further, the user can create tailoredapplication using devices 112, 114, 116 and sensors/IoT devices 106,108, 110 within a service portfolio or across different serviceportfolios. Example service portfolios can be a media device 112 such asa television as well as a tablet computer and smartphone can be part ofa media service portfolio with the customer premises. Further, the usercan configure the service portfolio to include devices such as the mediadevice 112, tablet computer, and smartphone. Thus, when media content isrequested from the media server 122 by the user from a control device(e.g. smartphone, computer, remote control, home assistant (e.g. Google™Home, Amazon™ Echo, etc.), etc.), the service multiplexer 102 retrievesthe media content from the media server 122 and provides the mediacontent to the media device 112, tablet computer, and/or smartphone(e.g. based on the presence information).

Another example service portfolio can include the video surveillancecamera 114 as well as door contact sensor and window breaking sensorslocated throughout the customer premises 104. Captured video is providedto the premises security server 124 through the service multiplexer 102.Further, alarms associated with unauthorized access to the customerpremises 104 detected by the door contact sensors and window breakingsensors are provided to the premises security server 124 through theservice multiplexer 102. Based on these alarms, the premises securityserver 125 can initiate dispatch of emergency personnel to the customerpremises 104 as well as notify the user via alerts to user smartphone.

A further example service portfolio can include the thermostat 116 aswell as a power meter associated with the customer premises 104.Recorded data from the thermostat as well as the power meter can beprovided to the utility server 126 through the service multiplexer 102.Further, the utility server 126 can archive such data for analysis todetermine power efficiency of the customer premises 104.

In one or more embodiments, the user can configure a service portfoliofor specific purposes. Further, the user can create a tailoredapplication within the service portfolio (or across service portfolios)using some or all of the devices that provide information for theservice. For example, the media device 112 and sensor/IoT device 106 aswell as the video surveillance camera 114 and sensor/IoT device 108 maybe part of a tailored application configured by the user. That is, theuser may configure using a control device (e.g. smartphone, computer,etc.) to generate the tailored application of viewing video captured bythe video surveillance camera 114 on the media device. In someembodiments, the service multiplexer 102 receives the configurationinformation of the tailored application. In some embodiments, theservice multiplexer 102 automatically or in response to further userinput can request captured video from the premises security server 124and provide the captured video to the media device 112 for presentation.In other embodiments, the service multiplexer 102 automatically or inresponse to further user input can retrieve captured video stored in thevideo surveillance camera 114 (or other premises storage device) andprovide the captured video to the media device 112 for presentation.

As another example, the user can create a tailored application thatincludes the video surveillance camera 114 and sensor/IoT device 108 aswell as thermostat 116 and sensor/IoT device 110. The video surveillancecamera 114 can provide the premises security server 124 with capturedvideo through the service multiplexer 102. The premises security server124 can identify an intruder using image processing techniques on thecaptured video. Further, the premises security server 124 can useinformation from the thermostat 116 to determine whether the user iswithin the customer premises 104 when the intruder was detected. Thatis, the user may have configured the tailored application a priori thatif the thermostat is below 66 degrees then the user is not within thecustomer premises 104. However, if the thermostat is 66 degree and abovethen the user may be within the customer premises 104. Thus, when thepremises security server 124 detects a possible intruder, the premisessecurity server 124 may query the service multiplexer 102 for thecurrent temperature level of the thermostat 116. The service multiplexer102 can retrieve from the thermostat 116 the current temperature leveland forward such information to the premises security server 124. Inresponse to receiving the current temperature level of the thermostat116 and determining whether it is above or below the 66 degreethreshold, the premises security server 124 sends a message to emergencypersonnel and/or to the user. If the current temperature level is above66 degrees, then the user is likely to be within the customer premises104 and the premises security server 124 may call a landline telephonewithin the customer premises to notify the user. However, if the currenttemperature level is below 66 degrees then the user is not likely withinthe customer premises 104 and the premises security server 124 may callthe user's smartphone to notify the user of the possible intruder.

In one or more embodiments, the user may dynamically group some of thesensors/IoT devices 106, 110, 114 into a service portfolio or tailoredapplication. Further, the user may create user configurable definablemodule that can integrate with a service. For example, the media device112 and thermostat 116 can be part of a user configurable definablemodule of a tailored application as part of a customer premises securityservice as described herein.

In one or more embodiments, the service multiplexer 102 iscommunicatively coupled to network services nodes 122, 124, 126 overcommunication network 120. In some embodiments, the communicationnetwork 120 is a 5G network that can be a heterogeneous communicationnetwork comprising wireless, cellular, WiFi, and/or Bluetooth networksthat has a control plane and a user plane. The service multiplexer 102can be configured to have an “always-active-session” on the controlplane of communication network 120 that communicates with networkservices nodes 122, 124, 126. Instead of using network resources withincommunication network 120 in every instance there is communicationbetween the service multiplexer 102 and one of the network servicesnodes 122, 124, 126, the network resources are used only once to providecommunication between the service multiplexer 102 and one of the networkservices nodes 122, 124, 126 thereby increasing the efficiency in usingnetwork resources. In other embodiments, the service multiplexer 102initiates communication on the user plane of the communication network120 between itself and one of the network services nodes 122, 124, 126when the service multiplexer 102 provides data from one of the sensors106, 110, 114 and/or devices 112, 114, 116. In further embodiments, oneof the network services nodes 122, 124, 126 initiates communication onthe user plane of the communication network 120 between itself and theservice multiplexer 102 when the one of the network services node 122,124, 126 provides data to one of the sensors/IoT devices 106, 110, 114and/or devices 112, 114, 116.

As described herein, communication, including exchange of data andcontrol information, between devices 112, 114, 116 and servicemultiplexer 102 can be done via the sensors/IoT devices 106, 108, 110communicative coupled to the devices 112, 114, 116.

Referring to FIG. 2, in one or more embodiments of a system 200 acustomer premises can include a several devices such as a set top box204, media device (e.g. television) 206, speakers 208, 210, lamps 212,214, home assistant 218, computer 220, smartphone 222, and videosurveillance camera 224. Each of the devices 204-224 can becommunicative coupled to a sensor or IoT device (not shown) to exchangedata and control information to a service multiplexer 202 or to one ormore network services nodes via the service multiplexer 202. Further,the customer premises may arrange the set top box 204, media device 206,speakers 208, 210 and lamps 212, 214 around a living area that includesa couch 216. A user of the customer premises 200 may configure thedevices 204-224 into one or more service portfolios and/or tailoredapplications using dynamic grouping and/or user configurable definablemodules. The service multiplexer 202 can exchange communication amongdevices configured in such service portfolios, devices implementingtailored applications, among themselves and/or network services nodes.

Referring to FIG. 3, in one or more embodiments of system 300, acustomer premises can include devices 204-224 communicatively coupled tothe service multiplexer 202. Each of the devices 204-224 can becommunicative coupled to a sensor or IoT device (not shown) to exchangedata and control information to a service multiplexer 202 or to one ormore network services nodes via the service multiplexer 202. A userassociated with the customer premises can dynamically group some of thedevices into different service portfolios. For example, the user canconfigure the media device, speakers, and set top box into a mediaservice portfolio 302. In another example, the user can configure thevideo surveillance camera and lamps in a premises security serviceportfolio 304. In a further example, the user can configure a homeassistant, computer, and smartphone into a control service portfolio306. The service multiplexer 202 can be communicatively coupled to thedevices in each of the service portfolios 302, 304, 306 over a premisescommunication network (i.e. sensor/IoT device communication network).The service portfolios 302, 304, 306 can be created by the user or asmart home system as default or conventional service portfolios.

In one or more embodiments, the user can interact and the services ofdevices in the media service portfolio in different ways. Further, theuser can create a tailored application using devices from the mediaservice portfolio as well as devices from other service portfolios. Atailored application implemented by several devices by dynamicallygrouping the devices for implementing the tailored application orcreating user configurable definable modules comprising the devices thatimplement the tailored application. For example, a user can create atailored application for selecting, presenting, and recording mediacontent by dynamically grouping or creating user configurable definablemodules comprising devices such as the media device, set top box, andsmartphone. The user can select media content from provided by a mediaserver to be presented on the media device. Further, the user can selectmedia content using the smartphone to be delivered by the media serverto be recorded by a digital video recorder communicatively coupled tothe set top box. In such an example, the service multiplexer 202 canreceive instructions for selecting the media content from the smartphoneand provide the instructions to the media server. Further, the servicemultiplexer can receive the media content from the media server andprovide the media content to the media device for presentation or theset top box for recording.

In one or more embodiments, the user can create a tailored applicationto view captured video from the video surveillance camera on thecomputer. In some embodiments the user may be using the computer at thecustomer premises and in other embodiments the user may be using thecomputer at a location remote to the customer premises. In furtherembodiments, the video surveillance camera captures video of thecustomer premises environment and provides the captured video content toa premises security server for storage. The user can provideinstructions from the computer to the service multiplexer 202. Further,the service multiplexer 202 can deliver the instructions to the premisessecurity server. In response, the premises security server can retrievethe captured video content from storage and provide the captured videocontent to the service multiplexer 202. Further, the service multiplexer202 delivers the captured video content to the computer for viewing bythe user.

Each of the devices can be communicative coupled to a sensor or IoTdevice (not shown) to exchange data and control information to a servicemultiplexer 202 or to one or more network services nodes via the servicemultiplexer 202.

Referring to FIG. 4, in one or more embodiments, a user can create acustomer service portfolios or a tailored application from default orconventional service portfolios. For example, the user can configure acustom home theater service portfolio or home theater tailoredapplication 402 that includes a media device, set top box, speakers, andlamps. In some embodiments, the home theater service portfolio or hometheater tailored application 402 can include a home assistant 218 as acontrol device. The home theater service portfolio or home theatertailored application 402 can be created using dynamic grouping of thedevices or creating user configurable definable modules that include thedevices.

In one or more embodiments, the user can use the voiceactivation/recognition capability of the home assistant 218 to selectmedia content from a media server to be presented on the media device.The home assistant 218 can provide instructions to the servicemultiplexer 202 which can be delivered to the media server. In response,the media server provides the requested media content to the servicemultiplexer 202. Further, the service multiplexer can deliver the mediacontent to the media device and/or set top box for presentation and/orrecording. In some embodiments, the user can use the voiceactivation/recognition capability of the home assistant 218 to controlthe volume of the speakers. Instructions on volume control can beprovided to the service multiplexer 202. In addition, the servicemultiplexer 202 can then provide the instruction on volume control toeach of the speakers. In other embodiments, the user can use the voiceactivation/recognition capability of the home assistant 218 to controlthe illumination level of the lamps. Instructions to control theillumination level of the lamps can be provided to the servicemultiplexer 202. Instructions to control the illumination level of thelamps can be provided to the service multiplexer 202. Also, the servicemultiple 202 can deliver the instructions to control illumination to thelamps.

Each of the devices can be communicative coupled to a sensor or IoTdevice (not shown) to exchange data and control information to a servicemultiplexer 202 or to one or more network services nodes via the servicemultiplexer 202.

Referring to FIG. 5, the user can further customize a home theaterservice portfolio or home theater tailored application 502 after usingthe home theater service portfolio or home theater tailored application402 to include a smartphone as a control device. The user can usedynamic grouping or user configurable definable modules to add thesmartphone to the home theater service portfolio or home theatertailored application. Thus, instead of using a home assistant, the usercan control selection/recording of media content as well as control ofvolume of speakers and illumination level of lamps with the smartphone.Thus, instructions for the selecting the media content are sent to theservice multiplexer 202 from the smartphone and provided to a mediaserver. In response, the media server provides the selected mediacontent to the service multiplexer 202. Further, the service multiplexer202 delivers the selected media content to the media device and/or settop box. Also, the service multiplexer 202 can receive instructions fromthe smartphone for volume control of the speakers or illumination levelof the lamps. In addition, the service multiplexer 202 can deliverinstructions for volume control to the lamps and illumination level tothe lamps, accordingly.

Each of the devices 204-224 can be communicative coupled to a sensor orIoT device (not shown) to exchange data and control information to aservice multiplexer 202 or to one or more network services nodes via theservice multiplexer 202.

Referring to FIG. 6, one or more embodiments includes a system 600includes service multiplexer 602 communicatively coupled to networkservices nodes 618, 620, 622 over a communication network 626. In someembodiments, the communication network 626 is a 5G wireless network thatcan be a heterogeneous communication network comprising cellular, WiFi,and Bluetooth networks. Further, the 5G communication network includes acontrol place and user plane. In addition, the service multiplexer 602includes one or more communication functions 606, 608, 610 that areimplemented by software and hardware components such as protocol stacks,processing systems, and memory devices. Further, communication links628, 630, 632 may carry communication sessions between the servicemultiplexer 602 and the network services nodes 618, 620, 622 and usecommunication functions 606, 608, 610. In some embodiments, acommunication session over communication links 628, 630, 632 can be an“always-active-session” connected the control place of the 5Gcommunication network 626. Having the “always-active-session”continuously connected to the control plane of the 5G communicationnetwork 626 and/or the network services nodes 618, 620, 622 provides forefficient use of network resources. That is, the service multiplexer 602may be communicating with the network services nodes 618, 620, 622frequently. Generating a communication session and tearing down acommunication session frequently causes the 5G communication network 626to expend more network resources than having an “always-active-session”continuously connected to the user plane.

In one or more embodiments, the service multiplexer 602 may be coupledto one or more sensor or IoT devices 612, 614, 616 over a premisescommunication network 624. IoT devices can be communicative coupled todevices within a customer premises to control such devices by a userassociated with the customer premises (e.g. media devices, set topboxes, video surveillance cameras, control device, etc.). In someembodiments, the service multiplexer 602 and the premises communicationnetwork 624 (i.e. sensor/IoT communication network) may be within thecustomer premises. In other embodiments, the service multiplexer 602 maybe at a location remote to the customer premises and portions of thepremises communication network 624 may be within the customer premisesand other portion of the premises communication network 624 may belocated remote to the customer premises. The premises communicationnetwork can be a proprietary communication network, an Internet Protocol(IP) communication network, or a non-IP communication network. Further,the service multiplexer 602 can include a communication function 604that is implemented by software and hardware components such as protocolstacks, processing systems, and memory devices. Further, communicationlinks 634, 636, 638 may carry communication sessions between the servicemultiplexer 602 and the IoT devices 612, 614, 616 and use communicationfunctions 604.

In one or more embodiments, the user can configure the servicemultiplexer 602 using a service management function 640. Further, theservice management function 640 is implemented by software and hardwarecomponents such as processing systems and memory devices. In addition, aservice provider can configure the service management function 640 toinitially group the IoT devices 612, 614, 616 (and the devicesassociated with the IoT devices) into different service portfolios asdescribed herein. Further, a user can configure the service managementfunction 640 to create customer service portfolios and/or tailoredapplications using dynamic grouping of IoT devices 612, 614, 616 anddevices associated with the IoT devices as well as user configurabledefinable modules that include one or more of the IoT devices 612, 614,616 and device associated with the IoT devices. Any particular IoTdevice 612, 614, 616 and device associated with the IoT device can be inmore than one service portfolio.

Once a service portfolio or tailored application is created thatincludes one or more IoT devices 612, 614, 616 (and their associateddevices), the service management function 640 can prepare to receive anddeliver instructions from control device provide by user input. This caninclude accessing the protocol stacks needed to communicate with thecorresponding network services nodes 618, 620, 622 and IoT devices 612,614, 616 for the service portfolio or tailored application as well asconfiguring with the communication functions 604, 606, 608, 610 with theprotocol stacks and/or any other logic rules when receiving instructionsfrom a control device for a particular service portfolio or tailoredapplication. Protocol stacks and logic rules can be stored in theservice multiplexer 602 or may be accessed from other network nodesaccessible by the service multiplexer 602.

For example, the IoT device 616 can be associated with the user'ssmartphone and IoT device 612 can be associated with the user's mediadevice (e.g. television) as well as IoT device 614 can be associatedwith the media device speakers. The user can select media content fromthe smartphone to be presented on the media device. The IoT device 616sends instructions for retrieving the selected media content to theservice multiplexer 602. The communication function 604 receives theinstructions. The communication function 604 has been configured apriori by the service management function 640 with logic rules for theservice portfolio or tailored application comprising the smartphone,media device, and speakers to relay the instructions to communicationfunction 606, which is communicatively coupled to a network servicesnode 618, which is the media server. The communication function 606sends the instructions for retrieving the selected media content to themedia server. Further, the media server and communication function 606create a communication session over the user plane of the 5Gcommunication network 626. In addition, the media server sends theselected media content to the service multiplexer 602 via communicationsession over the user plane. Once the selected media content isreceived, the communication session between communication function 606and the media server is torn down. Also, the communication function 606may store the selected media content on the service multiplexer 602temporarily. Further, the communication function 604 may access thestored media content and deliver the media content to the media devicefor presentation. In a further example, the user can control the volumelevel of the speakers using the smartphone. The smartphone can send theservice multiplexer 602 instructions to control the volume of thespeakers. The communication function 604 can receive the volume controlinstructions. The communication function 604 has been configured apriori by the service management function 640 with logic rules for theservice portfolio or tailored application comprising the smartphone,media device and speakers to relay the instructions to IoT device 614 tocontrol the volume of the speakers.

FIG. 7 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a method used in portionsof the system described in FIGS. 1-6. The method 700 can be implementedby a service multiplexer described herein. The method 700 can include,at 702, communicatively coupling to multiple sensors or IoT devices overa communication network. The communication network may or may notsupport an Internet Protocol (IP). Each sensor or IoT device can beassociated with a device on a customer premises. Further, the method 700can include, at 704, identifying capabilities of the multiple sensors orIoT devices. In addition, the method 700 can include, at 706,identifying at least one service associated with a plurality of sensorsresulting in a group of services. Each of plurality of sensors isassociated with at least one of the group of services. That is, twosensors can support one service and two other sensors can supportanother service, for example. These two services can be grouped into aservice portfolio. The method 700 can include, at 712, creating aservice portfolio according to the group of services. Also, the method700 can include, at 708, comprise creating a tailored applicationaccording to the group of services. Further, the method 700 can include,at 710, creating a user configurable definable module according to thegroup of services. The user configurable definable module can includeone or more sensors or IoT devices and their associated devices. Inaddition, the method 700 can include, at 712, dynamically grouping oneor more of the multiple sensors. In some embodiments the userconfigurable definable modules and or dynamically grouped sensors/IoTdevices can be used in a service portfolio or tailored application.

The method 700 can include, at 716, communicatively coupling to multiplenetwork services nodes over a 5th Generation (5G) wireless networkaccording to the service portfolio, tailored application, userconfigurable definable module, and/or dynamic grouping of sensors/IoTdevices. The 5G wireless network includes equipment operating in atleast one of a control plane and user plane. Also, the 5G wirelessnetwork comprises at least one of a cellular network, WiFi network, anda Bluetooth network. In some embodiments, a portion of the equipmentsupports connectivity to the control plane and another portion of theequipment supports connectivity to the control plane and user plane.Equipment can include one or more network devices (e.g. control devices,management devices, etc.). In other embodiments, network devices mayoverlap the two portions of equipment.

Further, the method 700 can include, at 718, continuously connecting tothe control plane of the 5G network. Having the service multiplexercontinuously connected or having an “always-active” communicationsession over the control plane to one or more network services nodes isan efficient use of network resources as described herein. In addition,the method 700 can include, at 720, receiving data from the plurality ofsensors resulting in received data. Also, the method 700 can include, at722, determining that the received data is associated with serviceportfolio, tailored application, user configurable definable module,and/or dynamically created group of sensors/IoT devices. The method 700can include, at 724, identifying one or more of the network servicesnodes from the plurality of network services nodes according to theservice portfolio, tailored application, user configurable definablemodule, and/or dynamically created group of sensors/IoT devices.Further, the method 700 can include, at 726, sending the received datato target network services node that can be one of the one or more ofthe network services nodes over the user plane of the 5G wirelessnetwork.

While for purposes of simplicity of explanation, the respectiveprocesses are shown and described as a series of blocks in FIG. 7, it isto be understood and appreciated that the claimed subject matter is notlimited by the order of the blocks, as some blocks may occur indifferent orders and/or concurrently with other blocks from what isdepicted and described herein. Moreover, not all illustrated blocks maybe required to implement the methods described herein.

FIG. 8 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a communication system 800for providing various communication services, such as delivering mediacontent. The communication system 800 can represent an interactive medianetwork, such as an interactive television system (e.g., an InternetProtocol Television (IPTV) media system). Communication system 800 canbe overlaid or operably coupled with systems 100, 200, 300, 400, 500,600 of FIGS. 1-6 as another representative embodiment of communicationsystem 800. For instance, one or more devices illustrated in thecommunication system 800 of FIG. 8 including a service multiplexeridentifying a service associated with each of multiple sensors/IoTdevices resulting in a group of services, creating a serviceportfolio/tailored application/user configurable definablemodule/dynamic group of sensors/IoT device according to the group ofservices, and communicatively coupling to a plurality of networkservices nodes over a 5th Generation (5G) wireless network according tothe service portfolio. The 5G wireless network includes a control planeand user plane. Further, the service multiplexer can be continuouslyconnecting to the control plane of the 5G wireless network, receivingdata from the multiple sensors resulting in received data, determiningthat the received data is associated with the service portfolio. Inaddition, the service multiplexer can identify a target network servicenode(s) from the plurality of network services nodes according to theservice portfolio, and send the received data to the target networkservices node(s) over the user plane of the 5G wireless network.

In one or more embodiments, the communication system 800 can include asuper head-end office (SHO) 810 with at least one super headend officeserver (SHS) 811 which receives media content from satellite and/orterrestrial communication systems. In the present context, media contentcan represent, for example, audio content, moving image content such as2D or 3D videos, video games, virtual reality content, still imagecontent, and combinations thereof. The SHS server 811 can forwardpackets associated with the media content to one or more video head-endservers (VHS) 814 via a network of video head-end offices (VHO) 812according to a multicast communication protocol. The VHS 814 candistribute multimedia broadcast content via an access network 818 tocommercial and/or residential buildings 802 housing a gateway 804 (suchas a residential or commercial gateway).

The access network 818 can represent a group of digital subscriber lineaccess multiplexers (DSLAMs) located in a central office or a servicearea interface that provide broadband services over fiber optical linksor copper twisted pairs 819 to buildings 802. The gateway 804 can usecommunication technology to distribute broadcast signals to mediaprocessors 806 such as Set-Top Boxes (STBs) which in turn presentbroadcast channels to media devices 808 such as computers or televisionsets managed in some instances by a media controller 807 (such as aninfrared or RF remote controller).

The gateway 804, the media processors 806, and media devices 808 canutilize tethered communication technologies (such as coaxial, powerlineor phone line wiring) or can operate over a wireless access protocolsuch as Wireless Fidelity (WiFi), Bluetooth®, Zigbee®, or other presentor next generation local or personal area wireless network technologies.By way of these interfaces, unicast communications can also be invokedbetween the media processors 806 and subsystems of the IPTV media systemfor services such as video-on-demand (VoD), browsing an electronicprogramming guide (EPG), or other infrastructure services.

A satellite broadcast television system 829 can be used in the mediasystem of FIG. 8. The satellite broadcast television system can beoverlaid, operably coupled with, or replace the IPTV system as anotherrepresentative embodiment of communication system 800. In thisembodiment, signals transmitted by a satellite 815 that include mediacontent can be received by a satellite dish receiver 831 coupled to thebuilding 802. Modulated signals received by the satellite dish receiver831 can be transferred to the media processors 806 for demodulating,decoding, encoding, and/or distributing broadcast channels to the mediadevices 808. The media processors 806 can be equipped with a broadbandport to an Internet Service Provider (ISP) network 832 to enableinteractive services such as VoD and EPG as described above.

In yet another embodiment, an analog or digital cable broadcastdistribution system such as cable TV system 833 can be overlaid,operably coupled with, or replace the IPTV system and/or the satelliteTV system as another representative embodiment of communication system800. In this embodiment, the cable TV system 833 can also provideInternet, telephony, and interactive media services. System 800 enablesvarious types of interactive television and/or services including IPTV,cable and/or satellite.

The subject disclosure can apply to other present or next generationover-the-air and/or landline media content services system.

Some of the network elements of the IPTV media system can be coupled toone or more computing devices 830, a portion of which can operate as aweb server for providing web portal services over the ISP network 832 towireline media devices 808 or wireless communication devices 816.

Communication system 800 can also provide for all or a portion of thecomputing devices 830 to function as a service multiplexer (hereinreferred to as service multiplexer 830). The service multiplexer 830 canuse computing and communication technology to perform function 862,which can include among other things, the techniques described by method700 of FIG. 7. For instance, function 862 of server 830 can be similarto the functions described for service multiplexers 102, 202, 402, 602of FIGS. 1-6 in accordance with method 700. The media processors 806 andwireless communication devices 816 can be provisioned with softwarefunctions 864 and 866, respectively, to utilize the services of servicemultiplexer 830. For instance, functions 864 and 866 of media processors806 and wireless communication devices 816 can be similar to thefunctions described for the communication devices 106, 108, 110, 112,114, 116, 204-224, 612, 614, and 616 of FIGS. 1-6 in accordance withmethod 700.

Multiple forms of media services can be offered to media devices overlandline technologies such as those described above. Additionally, mediaservices can be offered to media devices by way of a wireless accessbase station 817 operating according to common wireless access protocolssuch as Global System for Mobile or GSM, Code Division Multiple Accessor CDMA, Time Division Multiple Access or TDMA, Universal MobileTelecommunications or UMTS, World interoperability for Microwave orWiMAX, Software Defined Radio or SDR, Long Term Evolution or LTE, and soon. Other present and next generation wide area wireless access networktechnologies can be used in one or more embodiments of the subjectdisclosure.

FIG. 9 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a communication system 900employing an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network architecture tofacilitate the combined services of circuit-switched and packet-switchedsystems. Communication system 900 can be overlaid or operably coupledwith systems 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, and 600 of FIGS. 1-6 andcommunication system 800 as another representative embodiment ofcommunication system 800. Service multiplexer 830 can identify a serviceassociated with each of a plurality of sensors resulting in a group ofservices and create a service portfolio according to the group ofservices. Further, service multiplexer 830 can communicatively couple toa plurality of network services nodes over a 5th Generation (5G)wireless network according to the service portfolio. The 5G wirelessnetwork includes a control plane and user plane. In addition, theservice multiplexer can continuously connect to the control plane of the5G wireless network and receive data from the plurality of sensors, anddetermining that the received data is associated with the serviceportfolio. Also, the service multiplexer 830 can identify one or more ofthe network services nodes from the plurality of network services nodesaccording to the service portfolio, and send the received data to theone or more of the network services nodes over the user plane of the 5Gwireless network.

Communication system 900 can comprise a Home Subscriber Server (HSS)940, a tElephone NUmber Mapping (ENUM) server 930, and other networkelements of an IMS network 950. The IMS network 950 can establishcommunications between IMS-compliant communication devices (CDs) 901,902, Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) CDs 903, 905, andcombinations thereof by way of a Media Gateway Control Function (MGCF)920 coupled to a PSTN network 960. The MGCF 920 need not be used when acommunication session involves IMS CD to IMS CD communications. Acommunication session involving at least one PSTN CD may utilize theMGCF 920.

IMS CDs 901, 902 can register with the IMS network 950 by contacting aProxy Call Session Control Function (P-CSCF) which communicates with aninterrogating CSCF (I-CSCF), which in turn, communicates with a ServingCSCF (S-CSCF) to register the CDs with the HSS 940. To initiate acommunication session between CDs, an originating IMS CD 901 can submita Session Initiation Protocol (SIP INVITE) message to an originatingP-CSCF 904 which communicates with a corresponding originating S-CSCF906. The originating S-CSCF 906 can submit the SIP INVITE message to oneor more application servers (ASs) 917 that can provide a variety ofservices to IMS subscribers.

For example, the application servers 917 can be used to performoriginating call feature treatment functions on the calling party numberreceived by the originating S-CSCF 906 in the SIP INVITE message.Originating treatment functions can include determining whether thecalling party number has international calling services, call IDblocking, calling name blocking, 7-digit dialing, and/or is requestingspecial telephony features (e.g., *72 forward calls, *73 cancel callforwarding, *67 for caller ID blocking, and so on). Based on initialfilter criteria (iFCs) in a subscriber profile associated with a CD, oneor more application servers may be invoked to provide various calloriginating feature services.

Additionally, the originating S-CSCF 906 can submit queries to the ENUMsystem 930 to translate an E.164 telephone number in the SIP INVITEmessage to a SIP Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) if the terminatingcommunication device is IMS-compliant. The SIP URI can be used by anInterrogating CSCF (I-CSCF) 907 to submit a query to the HSS 940 toidentify a terminating S-CSCF 914 associated with a terminating IMS CDsuch as reference 902. Once identified, the I-CSCF 907 can submit theSIP INVITE message to the terminating S-CSCF 914. The terminating S-CSCF914 can then identify a terminating P-CSCF 916 associated with theterminating CD 902. The P-CSCF 916 may then signal the CD 902 toestablish Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) communication services,thereby enabling the calling and called parties to engage in voiceand/or data communications. Based on the iFCs in the subscriber profile,one or more application servers may be invoked to provide various callterminating feature services, such as call forwarding, do not disturb,music tones, simultaneous ringing, sequential ringing, etc.

In some instances the aforementioned communication process issymmetrical. Accordingly, the terms “originating” and “terminating” inFIG. 9 may be interchangeable. It is further noted that communicationsystem 900 can be adapted to support video conferencing. In addition,communication system 900 can be adapted to provide the IMS CDs 901, 902with the multimedia and Internet services of communication system 800 ofFIG. 8.

If the terminating communication device is instead a PSTN CD such as CD903 or CD 905 (in instances where the cellular phone only supportscircuit-switched voice communications), the ENUM system 930 can respondwith an unsuccessful address resolution which can cause the originatingS-CSCF 906 to forward the call to the MGCF 920 via a Breakout GatewayControl Function (BGCF) 919. The MGCF 920 can then initiate the call tothe terminating PSTN CD over the PSTN network 960 to enable the callingand called parties to engage in voice and/or data communications.

It is further appreciated that the CDs of FIG. 9 can operate as wirelineor wireless devices. For example, the CDs of FIG. 9 can becommunicatively coupled to a cellular base station 921, a femtocell, aWiFi router, a Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications (DECT) baseunit, or another suitable wireless access unit to establishcommunications with the IMS network 950 of FIG. 9. The cellular accessbase station 921 can operate according to common wireless accessprotocols such as GSM, CDMA, TDMA, UMTS, WiMax, SDR, LTE, and so on.Other present and next generation wireless network technologies can beused by one or more embodiments of the subject disclosure. Accordingly,multiple wireline and wireless communication technologies can be used bythe CDs of FIG. 9.

Cellular phones supporting LTE can support packet-switched voice andpacket-switched data communications and thus may operate asIMS-compliant mobile devices. In this embodiment, the cellular basestation 921 may communicate directly with the IMS network 950 as shownby the arrow connecting the cellular base station 921 and the P-CSCF916.

Alternative forms of a CSCF can operate in a device, system, component,or other form of centralized or distributed hardware and/or software.Indeed, a respective CSCF may be embodied as a respective CSCF systemhaving one or more computers or servers, either centralized ordistributed, where each computer or server may be configured to performor provide, in whole or in part, any method, step, or functionalitydescribed herein in accordance with a respective CSCF. Likewise, otherfunctions, servers and computers described herein, including but notlimited to, the HSS, the ENUM server, the BGCF, and the MGCF, can beembodied in a respective system having one or more computers or servers,either centralized or distributed, where each computer or server may beconfigured to perform or provide, in whole or in part, any method, step,or functionality described herein in accordance with a respectivefunction, server, or computer.

The service multiplexer 830 of FIG. 8 can be operably coupled tocommunication system 900 for purposes similar to those described above.Service multiplexer 830 can perform function 862 and thereby provideservice multiplexing services to the CDs 901, 902, 903 and 905 of FIG. 9similar to the functions described for service multiplexer of FIGS. 1-6in accordance with method 700 of FIG. 7. CDs 901, 902, 903 and 905,which can be adapted with software to perform function 972 to utilizethe services of the service multiplexer 830 similar to the functionsdescribed for communication devices 106, 108, 110, 112, 114, 116,204-224, 612, 614, and 616 of FIGS. 1-6 in accordance with method 700 ofFIG. 7. Service multiplexer 830 can be an integral part of theapplication server(s) 917 performing function 974, which can besubstantially similar to function 862 and adapted to the operations ofthe IMS network 950.

For illustration purposes only, the terms S-CSCF, P-CSCF, I-CSCF, and soon, can be server devices, but may be referred to in the subjectdisclosure without the word “server.” It is also understood that anyform of a CSCF server can operate in a device, system, component, orother form of centralized or distributed hardware and software. It isfurther noted that these terms and other terms such as DIAMETER commandsare terms can include features, methodologies, and/or fields that may bedescribed in whole or in part by standards bodies such as 3^(rd)Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). It is further noted that some orall embodiments of the subject disclosure may in whole or in partmodify, supplement, or otherwise supersede final or proposed standardspublished and promulgated by 3GPP.

FIG. 10 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a web portal 1002 of acommunication system 1000. Communication system 1000 can be overlaid oroperably coupled with systems 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, and 600 of FIGS.1-6, communication system 800, and/or communication system 900 asanother representative embodiment of systems 100, 200, 300, 400, 500,and 600 of FIGS. 1-6, communication system 400, and/or communicationsystem 900. The web portal 1002 can be used for managing services ofsystems 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600 of FIGS. 1-6 and communicationsystems 800-900. A web page of the web portal 1002 can be accessed by aUniform Resource Locator (URL) with an Internet browser using anInternet-capable communication device such as those described in FIGS.1-6 and FIGS. 8-9. The web portal 1002 can be configured, for example,to access a media processor 806 and services managed thereby such as aDigital Video Recorder (DVR), a Video on Demand (VoD) catalog, anElectronic Programming Guide (EPG), or a personal catalog (such aspersonal videos, pictures, audio recordings, etc.) stored at the mediaprocessor 806. The web portal 1002 can also be used for provisioning IMSservices described earlier, provisioning Internet services, provisioningcellular phone services, and so on.

The web portal 1002 can further be utilized to manage and provisionsoftware applications 862-866, and 972-974 to adapt these applicationsas may be desired by subscribers and/or service providers of systems100, 200, 300, 400, 500, and 600 of FIGS. 1-6, and communication systems800-900. For instance, users of the services provided by server/servicemultiplexer 830 can log into their on-line accounts and provision theserver/service multiplexer 102, 202, 602, and 830 with configuringservice portfolios, tailored applications dynamic grouping ofsensors/IoT devices, and user configurable definable modules asdescribes in FIGS. 1-7, and so on. Service providers can log onto anadministrator account to provision, monitor and/or maintain the systems100, 200, 300, 400, 500, and 600 of FIGS. 1-6 or server/servicemultiplexer 830.

FIG. 11 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a communication device1100. Communication device 1100 can serve in whole or in part as anillustrative embodiment of the devices depicted in FIGS. 1-6, and FIGS.8-9 and can be configured to perform portions of method 700 of FIG. 7.

Communication device 1100 can comprise a wireline and/or wirelesstransceiver 1102 (herein transceiver 1102), a user interface (UI) 1104,a power supply 1114, a location receiver 1116, a motion sensor 1118, anorientation sensor 1120, and a controller 1106 for managing operationsthereof. The transceiver 1102 can support short-range or long-rangewireless access technologies such as Bluetooth®, ZigBee®, WiFi, DECT, orcellular communication technologies, just to mention a few (Bluetooth®and ZigBee® are trademarks registered by the Bluetooth® Special InterestGroup and the ZigBee® Alliance, respectively). Cellular technologies caninclude, for example, CDMA-1×, UMTS/HSDPA, GSM/GPRS, TDMA/EDGE, EV/DO,WiMAX, SDR, LTE, as well as other next generation wireless communicationtechnologies as they arise. The transceiver 1102 can also be adapted tosupport circuit-switched wireline access technologies (such as PSTN),packet-switched wireline access technologies (such as TCP/IP, VoIP,etc.), and combinations thereof.

The UI 1104 can include a depressible or touch-sensitive keypad 1108with a navigation mechanism such as a roller ball, a joystick, a mouse,or a navigation disk for manipulating operations of the communicationdevice 1100. The keypad 1108 can be an integral part of a housingassembly of the communication device 1100 or an independent deviceoperably coupled thereto by a tethered wireline interface (such as a USBcable) or a wireless interface supporting for example Bluetooth®. Thekeypad 1108 can represent a numeric keypad commonly used by phones,and/or a QWERTY keypad with alphanumeric keys. The UI 1104 can furtherinclude a display 1110 such as monochrome or color LCD (Liquid CrystalDisplay), OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) or other suitable displaytechnology for conveying images to an end user of the communicationdevice 1100. In an embodiment where the display 1110 is touch-sensitive,a portion or all of the keypad 1108 can be presented by way of thedisplay 1110 with navigation features.

The display 1110 can use touch screen technology to also serve as a userinterface for detecting user input. As a touch screen display, thecommunication device 1100 can be adapted to present a user interfacewith graphical user interface (GUI) elements that can be selected by auser with a touch of a finger. The touch screen display 1110 can beequipped with capacitive, resistive or other forms of sensing technologyto detect how much surface area of a user's finger has been placed on aportion of the touch screen display. This sensing information can beused to control the manipulation of the GUI elements or other functionsof the user interface. The display 1110 can be an integral part of thehousing assembly of the communication device 1100 or an independentdevice communicatively coupled thereto by a tethered wireline interface(such as a cable) or a wireless interface.

The UI 1104 can also include an audio system 1112 that utilizes audiotechnology for conveying low volume audio (such as audio heard inproximity of a human ear) and high volume audio (such as speakerphonefor hands free operation). The audio system 1112 can further include amicrophone for receiving audible signals of an end user. The audiosystem 1112 can also be used for voice recognition applications. The UI1104 can further include an image sensor 1113 such as a charged coupleddevice (CCD) camera for capturing still or moving images.

The power supply 1114 can utilize common power management technologiessuch as replaceable and rechargeable batteries, supply regulationtechnologies, and/or charging system technologies for supplying energyto the components of the communication device 1100 to facilitatelong-range or short-range portable applications. Alternatively, or incombination, the charging system can utilize external power sources suchas DC power supplied over a physical interface such as a USB port orother suitable tethering technologies.

The location receiver 1116 can utilize location technology such as aglobal positioning system (GPS) receiver capable of assisted GPS foridentifying a location of the communication device 1100 based on signalsgenerated by a constellation of GPS satellites, which can be used forfacilitating location services such as navigation. The motion sensor1118 can utilize motion sensing technology such as an accelerometer, agyroscope, or other suitable motion sensing technology to detect motionof the communication device 1100 in three-dimensional space. Theorientation sensor 1120 can utilize orientation sensing technology suchas a magnetometer to detect the orientation of the communication device1100 (north, south, west, and east, as well as combined orientations indegrees, minutes, or other suitable orientation metrics).

The communication device 1100 can use the transceiver 1102 to alsodetermine a proximity to a cellular, WiFi, Bluetooth®, or other wirelessaccess points by sensing techniques such as utilizing a received signalstrength indicator (RSSI) and/or signal time of arrival (TOA) or time offlight (TOF) measurements. The controller 1106 can utilize computingtechnologies such as a microprocessor, a digital signal processor (DSP),programmable gate arrays, application specific integrated circuits,and/or a video processor with associated storage memory such as Flash,ROM, RAM, SRAM, DRAM or other storage technologies for executingcomputer instructions, controlling, and processing data supplied by theaforementioned components of the communication device 1100.

Other components not shown in FIG. 11 can be used in one or moreembodiments of the subject disclosure. For instance, the communicationdevice 1100 can include a reset button (not shown). The reset button canbe used to reset the controller 1106 of the communication device 1100.In yet another embodiment, the communication device 1100 can alsoinclude a factory default setting button positioned, for example, belowa small hole in a housing assembly of the communication device 1100 toforce the communication device 1100 to re-establish factory settings. Inthis embodiment, a user can use a protruding object such as a pen orpaper clip tip to reach into the hole and depress the default settingbutton. The communication device 1100 can also include a slot for addingor removing an identity module such as a Subscriber Identity Module(SIM) card. SIM cards can be used for identifying subscriber services,executing programs, storing subscriber data, and so forth.

The communication device 1100 as described herein can operate with moreor less of the circuit components shown in FIG. 11. These variantembodiments can be used in one or more embodiments of the subjectdisclosure.

The communication device 1100 can be adapted to perform the functions ofdevices of FIGS. 1-6, the media processor 806, the media devices 808, orthe portable communication devices 816 of FIG. 8, as well as the IMS CDs901-902 and PSTN CDs 903-905 of FIG. 9. It will be appreciated that thecommunication device 1100 can also represent other devices that canoperate in systems 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, and 600 of FIGS. 1-6,communication systems 800-900 of FIGS. 8-9 such as a gaming console anda media player. In addition, the controller 1106 can be adapted invarious embodiments to perform the functions 862-866 and 972-974,respectively.

Upon reviewing the aforementioned embodiments, it would be evident to anartisan with ordinary skill in the art that said embodiments can bemodified, reduced, or enhanced without departing from the scope of theclaims described below. For example, a person of ordinary skill in theart would understand that embodiments described or portions thereof canbe combined or separated, accordingly. Other embodiments can be used inthe subject disclosure.

It should be understood that devices described in the exemplaryembodiments can be in communication with each other via various wirelessand/or wired methodologies. The methodologies can be links that aredescribed as coupled, connected and so forth, which can includeunidirectional and/or bidirectional communication over wireless pathsand/or wired paths that utilize one or more of various protocols ormethodologies, where the coupling and/or connection can be direct (e.g.,no intervening processing device) and/or indirect (e.g., an intermediaryprocessing device such as a router).

FIG. 12 depicts an exemplary diagrammatic representation of a machine inthe form of a computer system 1200 within which a set of instructions,when executed, may cause the machine to perform any one or more of themethods described above. One or more instances of the machine canoperate, for example, as the service multiplexer 1230, the mediaprocessor 806, 106, 108, 110, 112, 114, 116, 204-224, 612, 614, and 616and other devices of FIGS. 1-6. In some embodiments, the machine may beconnected (e.g., using a network 1226) to other machines. In a networkeddeployment, the machine may operate in the capacity of a server or aclient user machine in a server-client user network environment, or as apeer machine in a peer-to-peer (or distributed) network environment.

The machine may comprise a server computer, a client user computer, apersonal computer (PC), a tablet, a smart phone, a laptop computer, adesktop computer, a control system, a network router, switch or bridge,or any machine capable of executing a set of instructions (sequential orotherwise) that specify actions to be taken by that machine. It will beunderstood that a communication device of the subject disclosureincludes broadly any electronic device that provides voice, video ordata communication. Further, while a single machine is illustrated, theterm “machine” shall also be taken to include any collection of machinesthat individually or jointly execute a set (or multiple sets) ofinstructions to perform any one or more of the methods discussed herein.

The computer system 1200 may include a processor (or controller) 1202(e.g., a central processing unit (CPU)), a graphics processing unit(GPU, or both), a main memory 1204 and a static memory 1206, whichcommunicate with each other via a bus 1208. The computer system 1200 mayfurther include a display unit 1210 (e.g., a liquid crystal display(LCD), a flat panel, or a solid state display). The computer system 1200may include an input device 1212 (e.g., a keyboard), a cursor controldevice 1214 (e.g., a mouse), a disk drive unit 1216, a signal generationdevice 1218 (e.g., a speaker or remote control) and a network interfacedevice 1220. In distributed environments, the embodiments described inthe subject disclosure can be adapted to utilize multiple display units1210 controlled by two or more computer systems 1200. In thisconfiguration, presentations described by the subject disclosure may inpart be shown in a first of the display units 1210, while the remainingportion is presented in a second of the display units 1210.

The disk drive unit 1216 may include a tangible computer-readablestorage medium 1222 on which is stored one or more sets of instructions(e.g., software 1224) embodying any one or more of the methods orfunctions described herein, including those methods illustrated above.The instructions 1224 may also reside, completely or at least partially,within the main memory 1204, the static memory 1206, and/or within theprocessor 1202 during execution thereof by the computer system 1200. Themain memory 1204 and the processor 1202 also may constitute tangiblecomputer-readable storage media.

Dedicated hardware implementations including, but not limited to,application specific integrated circuits, programmable logic arrays andother hardware devices can likewise be constructed to implement themethods described herein. Application specific integrated circuits andprogrammable logic array can use downloadable instructions for executingstate machines and/or circuit configurations to implement embodiments ofthe subject disclosure. Applications that may include the apparatus andsystems of various embodiments broadly include a variety of electronicand computer systems. Some embodiments implement functions in two ormore specific interconnected hardware modules or devices with relatedcontrol and data signals communicated between and through the modules,or as portions of an application-specific integrated circuit. Thus, theexample system is applicable to software, firmware, and hardwareimplementations.

In accordance with various embodiments of the subject disclosure, theoperations or methods described herein are intended for operation assoftware programs or instructions running on or executed by a computerprocessor or other computing device, and which may include other formsof instructions manifested as a state machine implemented with logiccomponents in an application specific integrated circuit or fieldprogrammable gate array. Furthermore, software implementations (e.g.,software programs, instructions, etc.) including, but not limited to,distributed processing or component/object distributed processing,parallel processing, or virtual machine processing can also beconstructed to implement the methods described herein. Distributedprocessing environments can include multiple processors in a singlemachine, single processors in multiple machines, and/or multipleprocessors in multiple machines. It is further noted that a computingdevice such as a processor, a controller, a state machine or othersuitable device for executing instructions to perform operations ormethods may perform such operations directly or indirectly by way of oneor more intermediate devices directed by the computing device.

While the tangible computer-readable storage medium 1222 is shown in anexample embodiment to be a single medium, the term “tangiblecomputer-readable storage medium” should be taken to include a singlemedium or multiple media (e.g., a centralized or distributed database,and/or associated caches and servers) that store the one or more sets ofinstructions. The term “tangible computer-readable storage medium” shallalso be taken to include any non-transitory medium that is capable ofstoring or encoding a set of instructions for execution by the machineand that cause the machine to perform any one or more of the methods ofthe subject disclosure. The term “non-transitory” as in a non-transitorycomputer-readable storage includes without limitation memories, drives,devices and anything tangible but not a signal per se.

The term “tangible computer-readable storage medium” shall accordinglybe taken to include, but not be limited to: solid-state memories such asa memory card or other package that houses one or more read-only(non-volatile) memories, random access memories, or other re-writable(volatile) memories, a magneto-optical or optical medium such as a diskor tape, or other tangible media which can be used to store information.Accordingly, the disclosure is considered to include any one or more ofa tangible computer-readable storage medium, as listed herein andincluding art-recognized equivalents and successor media, in which thesoftware implementations herein are stored.

Although the present specification describes components and functionsimplemented in the embodiments with reference to particular standardsand protocols, the disclosure is not limited to such standards andprotocols. Each of the standards for Internet and other packet switchednetwork transmission (e.g., TCP/IP, UDP/IP, HTML, HTTP) representexamples of the state of the art. Such standards are from time-to-timesuperseded by faster or more efficient equivalents having essentiallythe same functions. Wireless standards for device detection (e.g.,RFID), short-range communications (e.g., Bluetooth®, WiFi, Zigbee®), andlong-range communications (e.g., WiMAX, GSM, CDMA, LTE) can be used bycomputer system 1200. In one or more embodiments, information regardinguse of services can be generated including services being accessed,media consumption history, user preferences, and so forth. Thisinformation can be obtained by various methods including user input,detecting types of communications (e.g., video content vs. audiocontent), analysis of content streams, and so forth. The generating,obtaining and/or monitoring of this information can be responsive to anauthorization provided by the user. In one or more embodiments, ananalysis of data can be subject to authorization from user(s) associatedwith the data, such as an opt-in, an opt-out, acknowledgementrequirements, notifications, selective authorization based on types ofdata, and so forth.

The illustrations of embodiments described herein are intended toprovide a general understanding of the structure of various embodiments,and they are not intended to serve as a complete description of all theelements and features of apparatus and systems that might make use ofthe structures described herein. Many other embodiments will be apparentto those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. Theexemplary embodiments can include combinations of features and/or stepsfrom multiple embodiments. Other embodiments may be utilized and derivedtherefrom, such that structural and logical substitutions and changesmay be made without departing from the scope of this disclosure. Figuresare also merely representational and may not be drawn to scale. Certainproportions thereof may be exaggerated, while others may be minimized.Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in anillustrative rather than a restrictive sense.

Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and describedherein, it should be appreciated that any arrangement which achieves thesame or similar purpose may be substituted for the embodiments describedor shown by the subject disclosure. The subject disclosure is intendedto cover any and all adaptations or variations of various embodiments.Combinations of the above embodiments, and other embodiments notspecifically described herein, can be used in the subject disclosure.For instance, one or more features from one or more embodiments can becombined with one or more features of one or more other embodiments. Inone or more embodiments, features that are positively recited can alsobe negatively recited and excluded from the embodiment with or withoutreplacement by another structural and/or functional feature. The stepsor functions described with respect to the embodiments of the subjectdisclosure can be performed in any order. The steps or functionsdescribed with respect to the embodiments of the subject disclosure canbe performed alone or in combination with other steps or functions ofthe subject disclosure, as well as from other embodiments or from othersteps that have not been described in the subject disclosure. Further,more than or less than all of the features described with respect to anembodiment can also be utilized.

Less than all of the steps or functions described with respect to theexemplary processes or methods can also be performed in one or more ofthe exemplary embodiments. Further, the use of numerical terms todescribe a device, component, step or function, such as first, second,third, and so forth, is not intended to describe an order or functionunless expressly stated so. The use of the terms first, second, thirdand so forth, is generally to distinguish between devices, components,steps or functions unless expressly stated otherwise. Additionally, oneor more devices or components described with respect to the exemplaryembodiments can facilitate one or more functions, where the facilitating(e.g., facilitating access or facilitating establishing a connection)can include less than every step needed to perform the function or caninclude all of the steps needed to perform the function.

In one or more embodiments, a processor (which can include a controlleror circuit) has been described that performs various functions. Itshould be understood that the processor can be multiple processors,which can include distributed processors or parallel processors in asingle machine or multiple machines. The processor can be used insupporting a virtual processing environment. The virtual processingenvironment may support one or more virtual machines representingcomputers, servers, or other computing devices. In such virtualmachines, components such as microprocessors and storage devices may bevirtualized or logically represented. The processor can include a statemachine, application specific integrated circuit, and/or programmablegate array including a Field PGA. In one or more embodiments, when aprocessor executes instructions to perform “operations”, this caninclude the processor performing the operations directly and/orfacilitating, directing, or cooperating with another device or componentto perform the operations.

The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided with the understanding thatit will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of theclaims. In addition, in the foregoing Detailed Description, it can beseen that various features are grouped together in a single embodimentfor the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method ofdisclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that theclaimed embodiments require more features than are expressly recited ineach claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive subjectmatter lies in less than all features of a single disclosed embodiment.Thus the following claims are hereby incorporated into the DetailedDescription, with each claim standing on its own as a separately claimedsubject matter.

What is claimed is:
 1. A device, comprising: a processing systemincluding a processor; and a memory that stores executable instructionsthat, when executed by the processing system, facilitate performance ofoperations, comprising: creating a service portfolio responsive toidentifying a service of a group of services, wherein the group ofservices is associated with a plurality of inputs received from aplurality of sensors; communicatively coupling to a plurality of networkservices nodes according to the service portfolio, wherein thecommunicatively coupling includes a connection to a user plane of awireless network and a continuous connection to a control plane of thewireless network; determining whether data received from the pluralityof sensors is associated with the service portfolio; and in response toa determination that the data received from the plurality of sensors isassociated with the service portfolio: identifying a target networkservices node from the plurality of network services nodes; and sendingthe data to the target network services node over the user plane of thewireless network.
 2. The device of claim 1, wherein the operationsfurther comprise identifying capabilities of the plurality of sensors,and wherein creating the service portfolio comprises dynamicallygrouping a portion of the plurality of sensors.
 3. The device of claim1, wherein the operations further comprise communicatively coupling tothe plurality of sensors over a communication network that does notsupport an Internet Protocol (IP).
 4. The device of claim 1, wherein thewireless network comprises one of a cellular network, WiFi network and aBluetooth network, and wherein a first portion of the plurality ofnetwork services nodes supports connectivity to the control plane of thewireless network and a second portion of the plurality of networkservices nodes supports connectivity to the control plane of thewireless network and the user plane of the wireless network.
 5. Thedevice of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise creating atailored application according to the group of services.
 6. The deviceof claim 5, wherein the tailored application is provided to the deviceto access the plurality of inputs.
 7. The device of claim 1, wherein theoperations further comprise creating a user configurable definablemodule according to the group of services.
 8. A non-transitorymachine-readable storage medium, comprising executable instructionsthat, when executed by a processing system including a processor,facilitate performance of operations, comprising: receiving a group ofservices associated with a plurality of inputs received from a pluralityof sensors; defining a portion of the plurality of inputs into a serviceportfolio; assigning a plurality of network services nodes according tothe service portfolio to generate a connection to a user plane of awireless network and a continuous connection to a control plane of thewireless network; determining whether data received from the pluralityof sensors is associated with the service portfolio; and responsive to adetermination that the data received from the plurality of sensors isassociated with the service portfolio: identifying a target networkservices node from the plurality of network services nodes; andtransmitting the data received from the plurality of sensors to thetarget network services node over the user plane of the wirelessnetwork.
 9. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim8, wherein the operations further comprise identifying capabilities ofthe plurality of sensors, and wherein the service portfolio isdynamically defined by grouping the plurality of sensors according tothe plurality of inputs.
 10. The non-transitory machine-readable storagemedium of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise creating auser configurable definable module according to the group of services.11. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 8,wherein the operations further comprise communicatively coupling to theplurality of sensors over a communication network that does not supportan Internet Protocol (IP).
 12. The non-transitory machine-readablestorage medium of claim 8, wherein the wireless network comprises one ofa cellular network, WiFi network, and a Bluetooth network.
 13. Thenon-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein afirst portion of the plurality of network services nodes supportsconnectivity to the control plane of the wireless network and a secondportion of the plurality of network services nodes supports connectivityto the control plane of the wireless network and the user plane of thewireless network.